I've always been suspicious about casual dining restaurants who charge more than P250 per head on the average. Why? Because you get average of everything, except the price. My beef is, if you can't beat street food but charge more than they do, you're charging too much. I can care less if it's served on bone china plates.

Penang Hill, however, comes as an eating relief. Although of Malaysian staple, it's a chain of restaurants specializing in the best culinary offering of Southeast Asia - Vietnamese, Thai, Singaporean, Malaysian, etc. The flavors are unmistakable. A rich sauce is usually offered to complement the dish.

EntréTheir somosas are decent and fill the mouth. The sabtang kangkong with anchovy topping provided just the right flavor to complement the delicate taste of the veggy. The gado gado salad was light and refreshing. The fresh baked roti with its curry-based sauce was a show-stopper. Top all that with a mango llhasi and you've got a superb meal.

PriceWell, it averaged a little over P400/head but there was more food ordered than what was consumed. It's steep for my pocket but that's relative. Would you find the same goodness and selection for less? I don't know. Food-wise, I can't complain. Bang-for-the-buck, like I said, it's relative. Let's just say that if you can blow P400 on a meal, I would recommend it.